Gowin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The clans of the ancient Scottish Pictish tribe were the ancestors of the first person to use the name Gowin. It was name for a metalworker. The Gaelic form of the name is Mac Ghobhainn, which means son of the smith.[1]CITATION[CLOSE]Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York, Harper & Row, 1956. Print

Early Origins of the Gowin family

The surname Gowin was first found in Inverness-shire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Nis) divided between the present day Scottish Council Areas of Highland and Western Isles, and consisting of a large northern mainland area and various island areas off the west coast, the shire was anciently both a Pictish and Norwegian stronghold, where the name is from the Gaelic 'Govha' meaning 'a blacksmith' and as such could have been a name that applied to people throughout Scotland. However, as in the case of clans like the Fletchers or Clarks, eventually the name became attributed to a specific area or region. As such, The Clan was also located in Nithsfield in the 12th century, and recorded as a Border Clan. To the west in Elgin and Galloway they were known as the MacGavins.

Early History of the Gowin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gowin research.Another 158 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1396, 1613, 1698, 1725 and are included under the topic Early Gowin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gowin Spelling Variations

Scribes in the Middle Ages did not have access to a set of spelling rules. They spelled according to sound, the result was a great number of spelling variations. In various documents, Gowin has been spelled MacGowan, McGowan, MacGowin, McGowin, MacGowen, McGowen, Gow, Gowan, Gowen, Gowin, MacGavin, McGavin and many more.

Early Notables of the Gowin family (pre 1700)

Another 34 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gowin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Gowin family to Ireland

Some of the Gowin family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.Another 99 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Gowin family to the New World and Oceana

The cruelties suffered under the new government forced many to leave their ancient homeland for the freedom of the North American colonies. Those who arrived safely found land, freedom, and opportunity for the taking. These hardy settlers gave their strength and perseverance to the young nations that would become the United States and Canada. Immigration and passenger lists have shown many early immigrants bearing the name Gowin:

Gowin Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Danl Gowin, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 [2]CITATION[CLOSE]Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)

Gowin Knight (1713-1772), English "man of science," the first principle librarian of the British Museum from Corringham, Lincolnshire

The Gowin Motto

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Citations

^ Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)

^ The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 21) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html